Serving Together in Faith: Meet Pastors Mike and Linda Setterberg

At AK New Beginnings Church, ministry is more than a calling — it is a life lived in service, relationship, and faithfulness to God. Pastors Mike and Linda Setterberg have spent decades walking out that calling together, building a legacy of encouragement, leadership, and love for people.

Mike and Linda’s journey together began with their marriage on December 31, 1979. Since then, they have shared more than four decades of ministry, family, and service. In 1982, they moved from Washington State to Alaska to work alongside family, eventually putting down deep roots in the Fairbanks community. Today, they are blessed with three children and eight grandchildren and remain passionate about generational blessing — not only for their own family, but for the many people God has placed in their lives through ministry.

Over the years, Mike and Linda have faithfully invested in people from all walks of life. In 2004, they were ordained into ministry by local pastors, and many of the young people they had ministered to through Joel’s Place, a meaningful reflection of the impact they had already made in the community. For the next decade, they continued serving through Joel’s Place and The Well, focusing on encouragement, discipleship, and creating spaces where people could encounter hope and healing.

In 2012, they joined New Beginnings Church, where they served alongside Elder Matthew Hampton and First Lady Linda Hampton. Their partnership in ministry continued until the Hamptons relocated in 2023. Today, Linda serves as Lead Pastor of New Beginnings Church, though both she and Mike view ministry as a shared calling. Together, they lead as a team, each serving according to their God-given gifts. Mike’s servant-hearted leadership complements Linda’s gift of encouragement and exhortation, creating a ministry centered on compassion, authenticity, and care for others.

Outside the church, both Mike and Linda continue serving the wider Fairbanks community in significant ways. Mike currently serves as Executive Director of the JP Jones Community Development Center, where he especially enjoys supporting and connecting with pastors and community leaders throughout the Interior. He is also a Navy veteran and retiree of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Linda is the owner of WILD, LLC and serves as a volunteer chaplain at the Fairbanks Correctional Center. Her heart for people has been evident throughout her professional life, including 25 years as a registered nurse and another 25 years serving in nonprofit leadership.

Both Mike and Linda are lifelong learners who continue to grow spiritually and personally. Mike holds a degree in Theology, while Linda earned her Master’s Degree in Global Urban Leadership in 2014.

Whether through preaching, mentoring, community leadership, or simply walking alongside people through life’s challenges, Mike and Linda Setterberg continue to reflect the heart of Christ in Fairbanks and beyond. Their ministry is rooted in faithfulness, teamwork, and a genuine love for people — and New Beginnings Church is grateful for the leadership and example they provide every day.